We built a house in 2004. Last winter I bought a corn burner (very similar to a pellete stove). It hooks directly into the hot air run for the existing ductwork. I am very happy with it so far. It has a blower that moves air through the ductwork just as good as the gas furnace.

Many of the stoves do not have the option of hooking into your ductwork, so look around befor buying.

the first consideration should be the availability of fuel. RIght now in our area, pellet fuel has gone over 5.00 per bag which makes it far too costly for us to use. Our stove will need to sit this year out except for very cold periods. We were able to buy a 1/2 ton earlier in the year from Home Depot at a reasonable price but those days are gone. Gas is now cheaper to use for heat.

I don't like forcing myself to buy fuel from a restricted source ...

... where the producers/suppliers have the option of sticking me with a much higher price, later on.

Which is why I prefer to let the cartel that runs world grain, and have proved themselves very successful at paying the farmers peanuts for their grains, and that over the long term, to ensure that I'll be able to buy fuel for low prices for the foreseeable future.

You'll note that I didn't use the term, "reasonable", which one often uses when referring to "low" in terms of price. "Reasonable" has nothing to do with it.

Have a warm winter, everyone.

ole joyful